Display stand



Oct. 11, 1938. NELSON I 2,133,254

DISPLAY STAND Filed Feb. 18, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 8 J AZMATTORNEY z Oct. 11, 1938.

G. s. NELSON DISPLAYSTAND 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1s, 1937 I Oct.11,1938. SNELS N 2,133,254

DISPLAY STAND Filed Feb. 18, 1937 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Oct. 1 1,

2,133,254 DI'srLAY s rAN'D George S.Nelson, Revere, -Mass. ,--assign orto-The Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing" Company, Boston, Mass., acorporation of Massachusetts Application February is, 1937, Serial No.12 ,435

3 Claims. (Cl.-211-137) The object of the invention is to provide anattractive, stable, stand on which goods may be displayed, and also toprovide a stand which may be collapsed to lie flat when shipped, or notin use. p v

A further object of the invention is to provide a stand of the abovetype which may be made to fit within a corner, or around aprojectingcorner, to save space. The invention can best be seen andunderstood by reference to the drawings, in which embodiments thereofare shown.

Fig. 1 is a view .i n front perspective of one type of the stand adaptedto fit around a projecting corner. i

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the type .of plates employed to: formthe internal, or skeletal, structure of thestand, I

Fig. 3 is a view in front perspective of another typeof stand adapted tofit within a corner. I

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the type vof plates employed to formthe internal, or skeletal, structure of the stand shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic cross section on the line 55.of Fig.1. i v,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic cross section on the line 66 of Fig. 1., p

Fig.v '7 is a diagrammatic cross line"l'l of Fig. 3. w Fig. 8 is adiagrammatic cross section on the line 88 of Fig. 3. v i

Fig. 9 is a cross section of one of .theshelves.

,Referring to the drawings, reference will first be made to that typeofvdisplay stand which has section on the adaptability to fit aroundaprojecting corner. This stand, as shown in its displayform in Fig.

l of the drawings, comprises in its basestructura orthat portion of thestandwhich rests upon the floor, cells a, b and c, of which a representsthe central cell, and this is flanked on either side by cells D and 0,respectively. The combined cells form an angular structure, leaving aV-shaped back which enables the display stand to fit around the corner,cell a then occupying a centralposition in front of the corner, andcells. 2). and c lying adjacent to those walls that combine to form thecorner. The cells are composed of vertical walls, suitably related andfiexibly cone nected to enable the, cells to collectively lie flat arethe walls I and 2. 3, 4 and 5 represent the walls forming cell b and 6,l and 8 represent the wal s 0 m ..ce .qhere is, no wa h tweee cells aand b, and between cells a and 0. These by a cell e having thesamegeneral cross sectionall area as the cell c and, like the cell ,d,.of"prefer.-; ably lesser depth ,than thecell c. The; cell,d, composedof verticallquadrangular walls 12,, -3 l4 and I5, respectively;thevcelle of the vertical quadrangular walls H. 18, 1,9 and 2 0,.nespective lyThe cells d and e are open atbothto p and bottom.

The cells at and e are both vertically extended by cells I and g,respectively, cell beingcomposed of the vertical quadrangular walls;2l,,;22 Ill-{and 24, and cellg or the vertical quadrangular walls 25,26', 21 and 28. These ,cells,are.of lesser cross sectional area thancells d.-.and..c,.;oi which they, are in upward extension.,both' cells(land s occur. pying positionsin upward extensionfrom the: back of cellsd and e so asto leave the tops off these cells open at the front. 3 Theterraced cellular structure thus provided may bemade from two pieces ofblank material or cardboard. From one front piece may be formed, bycuts, bends and.scorings therein the walls, a, I, 2, s, 13,: I4, 1,1,I8, 21, 22, zsga d From another single backpiece of blank stock, theremay be formed bycuts, bends and scoring s therein, the walls 4, 5, 8, 1,l2, l fi, 2il |9, 2 4, 23,.

28 and-21. The ,two blank pieces ,of na terial from which the variouswalls are Iormed rest upon the floorand extend the fullheight of thestand. The blank pieces are combined along their meeting edges by.providing' them with flanges 30 on one piece suitably secured to theadjacent material of the other piece. At the ce n tre of the stand thetwo blanks are hingedly se cured together by flexiblyv securingthosepor;tions of the back piece which form the walls lli 20 of the cells d and eto the walls Ill, ll oi these same cells cut from the front piece, bysuitable angle pleces3l fastened securely to the respective wallsconnected by them. M As thus formed the display stand will present astepped front. The open top of cell (twill form one step, the walls IQand ll of cellsd and 6 l form risers r m t i step; hemes 92 l s d a.eile t o en ter ethe s it-i ia m wlni we Ban qfq l i. 31. w e m. is s;and the open tops 'of'cells f and-b forming other steps, respectively.These various steps provide places for shelves on which goods may beplaced for purpose of display, and the shelves are formed by providingeach opening with a top closure 32 forming a shelf. Each of theseshelves preferably consists of a cardboard plate having a folded edge 33by which it is secured, as by stapling, to one edge of the openingclosed by the plate. (See Fig. 9) The disposition of the plate is suchthat it will occupy a horizontal position recessed slightly within theopening so as to form a sunken shelf. The opposite edge of the plate, orthe edge opposite from the edge by which it is fastened, is providedwith a flange 34 adapted to bear against the riser adjacent the shelf.The shelves may be supported in any suitable manner, though preferablyin the manner presently to be explained. The shelves when turned downact to lock the stand in its display form, preventing any collapse ofthe stand until the shelves are lifted.

The stand, as thus far described, is provided with an internal skeletalstructure which gives strength and rigidity to it when in its displayform, acts as a support for its various shelves and is foldable with thestand. The skeletal structure consists of a number of flexibly combinedplates 35, 36 and 31. All of the plates rest upon the floor on which thestand is resting, and the tops of the plates, which lie within theopenings at the tops of the various cells where the various shelves arelocated, extend only to points where they will provide support for theseshelves, the shelves being simply turned down to rest upon ends of theplates. It was for the purpose of receiving this internal skeletalstructure that the walls were omitted between cells a and b, and betweencells a and c.

The internal skeletal structure is applied to the stand by firstcombining the plates of which it is composed, and opening the structureinto the position it would assume when the stand is in its display form.The outer portion, or shell, when opened into its display form, and heldin open position by turning down the shelves, may then be slipped overthe internal structure, when the stand becomes complete.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings is shown that type of display stand which hasadaptability to fit within a corner. This stand comprises in .its basestructure, or that portion of the stand which rests upon the floor,cells It, i and 7', of which h represents the central cell, and this isflanged on either side by cells i and 7', respectively. The combinedcells form an angular structure forming at the back a right angle whichenables the stand to fit within a corner, cell it then occupying acentral position within the corner and cells i and 7' lying adjacent tothose walls that combine to form the corner. The cells are composed ofvertical walls suitably related and flexibly connected to enable thecells to collectively lie flat when the display stand is shipped, or notin use. The vertical walls which form the cell it are the walls 40, 4|,42 and 43. 44, 45 and 48 represent walls forming the cell i. 41, 48 and49 represent the vertical walls forming the cell 7'. There is no wallbetween cells h and. i. and betweencells h and 7. The tops and bottomsof the cells h, i and 7' are open.

Cell h is an elongated cell which rises to the full height of the stand.The walls 42 and 43, which assist in the formation of this cell,'extendto the floor, or base, upon which the stand rests. its walls 40 and 4|are supported as will later be described. Cells 2' and 7' are verticallyextended, cell i by a cell It and cell 7' by a cell Z. 50, and 52represent the vertical walls forming the cell It; 53, 54 and 55 thevertical walls forming the cell Z. There is no wall between cells h andk and between cells It and Z. The cells is and Z are each of the sameheight, or depth, and preferably of lesser depth than the cells 1' and7', from which they vertically extend, respectively. The cells k and Zoccupy positions in upward extension from the back of cells 1' and 7',flanking central cell it, so as to leave the tops of the cells i and 7'open at the front. Both the tops and bottoms of cells It and Z are leftopen.

The terraced cellular structure thus provided may be made from threepieces of blank material, or cardboard. From one front piece may beformed by cuts, bends and scorings therein, walls 45, 46,41 and 48 ofcells i and 7', and walls 5|, 52, 53 and 54 of cells It and Z. Thispiece rests upon the floor, or base, upon which the stand is resting.From another scored front piece may be formed the walls 40, 4| of cellh. From a single back piece of blank material there may be formed by abend and cuts therein, the walls 42} and 43 of cell h, the walls 44, 49of cells 1' and 7', and the walls 50, 55 of cells It and Z. This backpiece rests upon the floor and extends the full height of the stand.

The blank pieces are combined along their meeting edges by providingflanges 58 on one piece suitably secured to the adjacent material of theother piece. At the centre of the stand the two front blanks arehingedly secured together by flexibly securing those portions of thefront blank which forms the walls 52 and 53 of cells it and Z to theblank which forms the walls 40, 4| of cell it by means of an angle piece60, suitably secured to the respective walls connected by them.

As thus formed the display stand will present a stepped front with twolines of steps leading to the top of cell it at the top of the stand.The open top of cell i will form one step and the wall 5| of cell Itwill form a riser for this step. The open top of cell It forms anotherstep and the wall 40 of cell it a riser from this step to the top ofcell It and top of the stand. On the other line of steps the open top ofcell 7' will form a step and the Wall 54 of cell I will form a riser tothis step. The open top of cell Z will form another step and the wall 4|of cell it will form a riser to'this step to the open top of cell h, andtop of the stand. These various steps, as in the stand first described,provide places for shelves on which goods may be placed for purpose ofdisplay, and the shelves are formed by providing each opening with a topsunken closure 32 which when turned down acts to lock the stand in itsdisplay form, preventing any collapse of the stand until the shelves arelifted, as in the display stand first described.

To give strength and rigidity to the stand when in its display form, andact as a support for its various shelves, the stand is provided with aninternal skeletal structure foldable with the stand, similar to that inthe stand first described. This skeletal structure consists of a numberof flexibly combined plates GI, 62 and 63. All the plates rest upon thefloor on which the stand is resting, and the tops of the plates whichlie within the openings at the tops of the various cells where theshelves 32 are located, extend only to points where they will providesupport for these shelves, the shelves being simply turned down to restupon the ends of the plates. It was for the purpose of receiving thisinternal skeletal structure that the ii a walls were omitted betweencells i and h, a and h, k and h, and l and h.

The internal skeletal structure may be applied to the exterior structureor shell of the stand the same as in the construction first described.

I claim:

1. A display stand comprising combined walls of sheet material cut andbent to form sets of connected terraced cells angularly arranged inrelation to each other and having a common cell, all of said cells beingopen top and bottom and collectively collapsible to lie flat,displaceable shelves forming covers closing the open tops of said cellsand assisting in maintaining said stand in its display form, and meansfor supporting said covers when functioning as aforesaid.

2. A display stand comprising combined walls of sheet material cut andbent to form sets of connected terraced cells angularly arranged inrelation to each other and having a common apex cell at the back of saidstand, all of said cells being open top and bottom and. collectivelycollapsible to lie fiat, displaceable shelves forming covers closing theopen tops of said cells and assisting in maintaining said stand in itsdisplay form, and means for supporting said covers when functioning asaforesaid.

3. A display stand comprising combined walls of sheet material cut andbent to form sets of connected terraced cells angularly arranged inrelation to each other and having a common bottom cell at the front ofsaid stand, all of said cells being open top and bottom and collectivelycollapsible to lie flat, displaceable shelves forming covers closing theopen tops of said cells and assisting in maintaining said stand in itsdisplay form, and means for supporting said covers when functioning asaforesaid.

GEORGE S. NELSON.

